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PAPER
Nutritional value of green
seaweed (Ulva lactuca)
for broiler chickens
Alaeldein M. Abudabos, Aly B. Okab,
Riyadh S. Aljumaah, Emad M. Samara,
Kalid A. Abdoun, Ahmad A. Al-Haidar
Department of Animal Production,
College of Food and Agriculture Sciences,
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
The current work aimed to assess the poten-
tial of the green seaweed Ulva lactuca (U. lactu-
ca) as an alternative ingredient in broiler chick-
en diets. The effect of substituting 1.0 or 3.0% of
corn with U. lactuca on performance, carcass
characteristics and serum constituents of broil-
ers from 12 to 33 d of age was evaluated. Three
treatments were distributed in a RCBD design:
T1, control diet (0% U. lactuca); T2, 1.0 % U. lac-
tuca; T3, 3.0 % U. lactuca. A total of 45 chicks
were assigned to three treatments (5 replicates
per treatment) used in this experiment.
Cumulative feed intake (FI), body weight gain
(BWG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and nutri-
ents retention from 12 to 33 d of age were not
affected by treatment (P>0.05). Birds which
had received T3 had a higher dressing percent-
age and breast muscle yield compared to those
which had received T1 or T2. Serum total lipid,
cholesterol and uric acid concentrations were
significantly lower in birds which had received
T2 and T3 (P<0.05). Serum enzymes and elec-
trolytes were not influenced by any dietary treat-
ment except for alanine transaminase (ALT)
which was significantly lower for the treated
groups. Based on presented evidences, it is rec-
ommended to substitute 3.0% of corn with
green seaweed (U. lactuca).
Introduction
Broiler feed is based primarily on corn and
soybean meal (SBM). In most areas of the
world corn is the predominant source of energy
in feed because of its abundance and
digestibility, roughly 60-75% of the total make-
up of broiler diets is corn. Historically high
corn prices, prompting nutritionists to search
for other suitable raw materials to provide
required nutrients for poultry to maintain pro-
Italian Journal of Animal Science 2013; volume 12:e28
ductivity and to lower feed cost. Green algae
(division Chlorophyta), found nearest the shore
in shallow waters and usually growing as thread-
like filaments, irregular sheets, or branching
fronds, containing a number of relatively large
forms (e.g., Ulva, Codium, Valonia, Halimeda)
(Graham, 1984). Ulva lactuca is known by the
common name sea lettuce, the nutritive value of
U. lactuca has been the subject of several stud-
ies. Seaweed shows great variation in nutrient
composition which is related to several environ-
mental parameters and ecological conditions
such as water temperature, salinity, light,
species, season of the year and the geographic
area (Jensen, 1993; Dawes, 1998; Manivannan
et al., 2009). Several researchers investigated
the nutritional value of seaweeds as an ingredi-
ent for broiler chickens without any adverse
effects on performance. Asar (1972) indicated
that supplementation of chicken’s basal diet
with 4.0% seaweeds increased body weight gain.
Maurice et al. (1984) concluded that sun dried
Brazilian Elodea (Egeria densa) could be used in
broiler diets at 5.0% without adversely affecting
growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) or dressing
percentage. El-Deek et al. (1987) found that
inclusion of seaweeds in finisher broiler diets
had no significant effects on growth, feed intake
(FI) and FCR. Gu et al. (1988) concluded that
2.0% of marine algae meal improved broiler per-
formance and dressing percentage. Ross and
Dominy (1990) found that the growth of the
broilers fed diets containing up to 6.0% of
Spirulina was not different from that of the
chicks receiving the control diet. Ernest and
Warren (1990) observed that performance of
male broiler chickens was not significantly
affected by incorporation of blue-green algae up
to 6.0% in the diet. Other reports indicated neg-
ative effects for seaweeds on broiler perform-
ance. Ventura et al. (1994) studied the effect of
inclusion of U. rigida at 0.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0%
on chicken performance, it was reported that U.
rigida decreased FI and body weight gain (BWG)
and they concluded that it is harmful to be
included in the diet at level higher than 10.0%.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the
effect of substituting 1.0 and 3.0% of corn with
seaweed (U. lactuca) on performance, carcass
characteristics, serum constituents and nutri-
ents retention of broilers from 12 to 33 d.
Materials and methods
The study was carried out at the Department
of Animal Production, Faculty of Food and
Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University;
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia under a protocol
[Ital J Anim Sci vol.12:e28, 2013]
Corresponding author: Dr. Alaeldein M.
Abudabos. Department of Animal Production,
College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King
Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451,
Saudi Arabia. E-mail: alabudabos@gmail.com
Key words: Ulva lactuca, Broiler, Performance,
Nutrients retention, Serum metabolite.
Acknowledgments: the authors extend their
appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific
Research at King Saud University for funding
this work through the research group No. RGP-
VPP-171.
Received for publication: 11 August 2012.
Revision received: 10 November 2012.
Accepted for publication: 7 January 2013.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons
Attribution NonCommercial 3.0 License (CC BY-
NC 3.0).
©Copyright A.M. Abudabos et al., 2013
Licensee PAGEPress, Italy
Italian Journal of Animal Science 2013; 12:e28
doi:10.4081/ijas.2013.e28
approved by King Saud University and com-
plies with the current laws of Saudi Arabia.
Seaweed preparation
Seaweed was handpicked and collected in
April (2009) using scalpel from Mediterranean
Sea shore of Alexandria, Egypt. The collected
seaweed was from the species U. lactuca,
green algae in the division of Chlorophyta.
Collected seaweed was adequately washed
with fresh water for 3 times to remove the salt,
sun-dried for three days, and then oven-dried
at 60°C for 72 h. Seaweed was ground to pass
a 1.0 mm screen using Wiley mill grinder.
Samples of U. lactuca were analyzed for gross
energy (AOAC, 1990), crude protein (N x 6.25)
(AOAC, 1968), crude fibre (AOAC, 1982b) and
ether extract (AOAC, 1982a). Minerals content
were determined by inductively coupled plas-
ma emission spectrometry (ICP) (method
990.08 AOAC). Chemical analysis and mineral
composition of U. lactuca are presented in
Table 1.
Animals and husbandry
One-day-old male chicks (Ross) were
obtained from a commercial hatchery and ran-
domly distributed among cages in electrically
heated battery brooders with raised wire
floors. The chicks had been vaccinated for
Marek’s disease, Newcastle and infectious
bronchitis. For the first 11 days, the chicks
[page 33]
 Abudabos et al.

were fed a common starter mash diet that met
the nutrient requirement suggested by NRC
(1994). At 12 d, the chicks were grouped by
weight in such a way as to reduce variation in
mean chick weight and received the experi-
mental diets. Five birds were randomly allotted
to each of 15 cages; total number of birds used
in this trail was 45. The temperature during
the trial period was set at 22.0°C (actual tem-
perature average during the trial period was
26.1°C). Feed and water were provided ad libi-
tum and birds were maintained a 24-h light
schedule.
(colometric method). In addition, the following
serum enzymes were determined by using
UV/Kinetic method: alanine transaminase
(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alka-
line phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltrans-
ferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and
creatine kinase (CK). All analyses were carried
out in duplicate. The birds were processed using
manual evisceration to determine dressing and
parts yield. After euthanasia, feather, heads,
necks, and shanks were removed, and the
remaining carcasses were dissected to breast,
thigh, drumstick, and abdominal fat and
weighed. The percentage of yield of each part
was calculated on the basis of dressed weight.
Breast muscle color was measured by using
color values for (L*) lightness, (a*) redness and
(b*) yellowness, by Chromo meter CR-400
(Konica Minolta sensing Inc., Japan, B
8207175).
Statistical analysis
All statistical analysis was performed using
the Statistical Analysis System (SAS, 2003). A

Diets and treatments

Chemical composition of corn, SBM, and U. Table 1. Dietary ingredients and chemical composition of the experimental diets and Ulva
lactuca were determined and the adjusted val- lactuca.
ues were used to formulate the experimental
Experimental diets
diets (Table 1). Corn was reduced at the expense
of U. lactuca. Chicks were fed a standard corn- T1 T2 T3 Ulva lactuca
SBM starter from 1-to 11 d of age and on d 12
chicks were received 1 of 3 dietary treatments: Ingredients, g/kg
T1, control diet and was formulated to meet a Corn 556.0 556.0 536.0
Soybean meal 334.0 334.0 334.0
minimum of 100% of NRC (1994) requirements;
Seaweed 0.0 10.0 30.0
T2, 1.0% U. lactuca; T3, 3.0% U lactuca. Diets 2 Palm oil 63.0 63.0 63.0
and 3 were formulated by substituting 1.0 and Dicalcium phosphate 23.0 23.0 23.0
3.0% of corn with U. lactuca, respectively. There Ground limestone 5.0 5.0 5.0
was no attempt to make the diets isocalloric or DL-methionine (98%) 1.0 1.0 1.0
isonitrogenous, the levels of other ingredients Salt 3.0 3.0 3.0
remained constant. Vitamin premix° 2.5 2.5 2.5
Trace mineral mix# 0.5 0.5 0.5
Measurements Choline Cl 60 0.5 0.5 0.5
Feed intake and body weight (BW) were Sodium Bicarbonate 1.5 1.5 1.5
Calculated analysis
recorded weekly by pen and FCR computed at 19,
ME, kcal/kg 3160 3150 3120
26 and 33 d. Mortality was checked daily and Crude protein, % 20.7 20.9 21.3
weights of dead birds were used to adjust FCR. Lysine, % 1.11 1.11 1.12
At the conclusion of the trial at 33 d, two birds Methionine, % 0.41 0.42 0.45
per cage were selected and kept without food for Threonine, % 0.79 0.82 0.88
12 h then were bled from cutaneous ulnar vein. TSSA, % 0.75 0.80 0.83
Blood samples were collected in a 10 mL tubes Calcium 0.90 0.96 1.08
(Iheukwumere and Herbert, 2003); blood sam- Non-phytate P 0.45 0.45 0.46
ples were centrifuged using plain tubes at 5ºC Determined analysis
and 3000 rpm for 10 min. serum was harvested Moisture 6.90 7.10 7.10 10.65
and then transferred into eppendorf tubes and ME, kcal/kg 3139 3127 3113 1878
stored at -20ºC until further analysis, unless Crude protein, % 20.8 21.1 21.5 23.1
Ether extract, % 7.53 7.77 6.87 0.25
fresh sample is required for the analysis. The
Crude fibre, % 2.57 3.18 3.24 12.31
following analysis were conducted using enzy- Ash, % 5.60 5.85 5.97 29.86
matic colorimetric kits (M, Europa GmbH, Calcium, % 6.15
Hannover, Germany): total protein (Biuret Phosphorus, % 0.20
method), albumin (Bromoreesol green method), Sodium, % 2.93
globulin concentration was calculated, as the dif- Potassium, % 1.51
ference between total protein (TP) and albumin Magnesium, % 1.90
concentrations, total lipid (sulfo-phosphate Copper,ppm 7.07
vanillin method), cholesterol (Trinders color Iron,ppm 1052
method), glucose (Modified trinder/GOD Manganese, ppm% 101
method), uric acid (end point method), sodium Zinc, % 28.0
(Na+) (sodium dependent β-galactosidase activ- T1, control diet (0% U. lactuca); T2, 1.0 % U. lactuca; T3, 3.0 % U. lactuca. °Vitamin-mix is supplied in the following per kg of diet:
ity), potassium (K+) (turbidimetric method), retinyl acetate, 3.41 mg; cholecalciferol, 0.07 mg; DL-α-tocopheryl acetate, 27.5 mg; menadione sodium bisulphate, 6 mg; riboflavin,
7.7 mg; niacin, 44 mg; panthotenic acid, cyanocobalamin, 0.02; choline496 mg; folic acid, 1.32 mg; pyridoxine HCl, 4.82 mg; thiamine
chloride (Cl–) (thiocyanate method); calcium mononitrate, 2.16 mg; D-biotin, 0.11 mg. #Mineral-mix is supplied in the following per kg of diet: manganese, 67 mg; zinc, 54 mg; copper,
(Ca++) (color/end point method) and zinc (Zn++) 2 mg; iodine, 0.5 mg; iron, 75 mg; and selenium, 0.2 mg.

[page 34] [Ital J Anim Sci vol.12:e28, 2013]

 Ulva lactuca for broiler chickens

cage constituted the experimental unit. Three Table 2. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens given
dietary treatments were arranged in 5 replica- the experimental diets at different ages.
tions in a randomized complete block design.
Treatments P*
Means for measurements showing significant
differences in the analysis of variance were T1 T2 T3 SEM
tested using the PDIFF option. Means ± stan-
dard error of the mean (SEM) are presented in Performance 12-19 d
BWG, g 342.7 348.9 36914 ±16.2 ns
the tables and differences were considered sta-
FI, g 440.4 436.7 462.8 ±1102 ns
tistically significant at P<0.05.
FC, g:g 1.291 1.259 1.259 ±0.03 ns
Performance 20-26 d
BWG, g 534.3 511.7 514.4 ±23.5 ns
FI, g 735.4 707.9 718.1 ±22.3 ns
Results FC, g:g 1.381 1.394 1.408 ±0.06 ns
Performance 27-33 d
Feed intake, BWG, and FCR of male broiler BWG, g 596.1 607.4 623.2 ±22.1 ns
at different ages are shown in Table 2. At 26 FI, g 879.9 891.6 930.9 ±25.9 ns
and 33 d, no significant differences in BWG, FI FC, g:g 1.480 1.470 1.499 ±0.04 ns
and FCR were found due to treatment; similar- Cumulative performance°
BWG, g 1473.2 1467.2 1506.8 ±46.0 ns
ly, cumulative FI, BWG and FCR from 12 to 33 d
FI, g 2055.7 2036.2 2111.8 ±37.5 ns
were not affected by treatment. However, a FC, g:g 1.398 1.392 1.406 ±0.04 ns
numeric improvement in BWG for birds which
T1, control diet (0% U. lactuca); T2, 1.0 % U. lactuca; T3, 3.0 % U. lactuca. Treatments 2 and 3 were formulated by substituting 1.0 and
had received T3 was noticed (P=0.7). The 3.0% of corn with U. lactuca, respectively. BWG, body weight gain; FI, feed intake; FCR, feed conversion ratio. °Cumulative perform-
mean percentage of carcass parts is document- ance for the period from 19 to 33 day of age; ns, not significant.
ed in Table 3. Treatment had a significant
effect on dressing percentage (P<0.004); birds
which had received T3 had a higher dressing
percentage compared to those which had Table 3. Effect of different treatments on parts yield as percentages of broiler dressed
received T1 or T2. While, there was no signifi- weight and breast color.
cant difference in dressing percentage
Treatments P*
between birds which had received T2 and T3.
Breast muscle yield followed the same trend; T1 T2 T3 SEM
heavier breasts were obtained from birds
which had received T 2 or T3 (P<0.001). No Dressed yield, % 70.3b 70.7b 71.3a ±0.14 **
difference in breast muscle yield was noticed Breast meat, % 23.2b 25.2a 25.5a ±0.26 ***
Leg quarter, % 35.9 35.2 35.6 ±0.48 ns
between birds which had received T2 and T3.
Abdominal fat, % 2.2a 1.9b 1.3c ±0.09 **
Thigh and drumstick (leg quarter) yield per-
Breast color
centage was not significantly affected by treat- L* 65.2 66.99 67.0 ±1.91 ns
ment (P>0.05). Abdominal fat was reduced A* 9.14 10.26 10.38 ±1.074 ns
significantly (P<0.001) in birds which had B* 12.02 13.5 11.89 ±0.74 ns
received T3 compared to those which had
T1, control diet (0% U. lactuca); T2, 1.0 % U. lactuca; T3, 3.0 % U. lactuca.Treatments 2 and 3 were formulated by substituting 1.0 and
received T1 or T2, a significant differences in 3.0% of corn with U. lactuca, respectively. Breast muscle color was measured by using color values for (L*) lightness, (a*) redness
abdominal fat percentage between T2 and T3 and (b*) yellowness, by Chromo meter CR-400 (Konica Minolta sensing Inc., Japan, B 8207175). Breast meat yield (Pectoralis major
and Pectoralis minor), expressed as percentage of the chilled carcass weight. **P<0.01; ***P<0.001; ns, not significant. a,b,cMeans
(P<0.05) was found. On the other hand, breast in the row with different superscripts differ significantly.
muscle color was not affected by any dietary
treatments. The data related to serum bio-
chemistry are shown in Table 4. Serum total
lipid concentrations were significantly affected
by treatment (P<0.05), serum from birds Table 4. Serum chemistry concentrations of broiler chickens fed the experimental diets.
which had received T3 had the lowest concen-
Treatments P*
tration, while there was no difference between
those fed T2 and T3 or T1 and T2. Serum cho- T1 T2 T3 SEM
lesterol was reduced for T2 and T3 as com-
pared to T1 (P<0.05). Serum total protein, AST, U/L 67.5 61.0 66.3 ±4.9 ns
albumin, globulin, and glucose were similar in CK, U/L 1.86 1.49 1.37 ±0.15 ns
ALT, U/L 1.98a 1.14b 1.32b ±0.17 *
all groups. Serum mineral contents were found
ALP, U/L 161.5 155.9 159.4 ±21.0 ns
to be similar among birds that had received the
GGT, U/L 3.97 4.88 5.51 ±0.59 ns
dietary treatments, Na+, K+, Na: K ratio, Cl-, LDH, U/L 4.02 3.99 3.98 ±0.38 ns
Ca++, and Zn++ concentrations were not affect-
T1, control diet (0% U. lactuca); T2, 1.0 % U. lactuca; T3, 3.0 % U. lactuca. Treatments 2 and 3 were formulated by substituting 1.0 and
ed by any treatment (P>0.05). On the other 3.0% of corn with U. lactuca, respectively. Na, sodium; K, potassium; Cl, chlorine; Ca, calcium; Zn, zinc; *P<0.05; ns, not significant.
hand, serum uric acid concentration was influ- a,b
Means in the row with different superscripts differ significantly.

[Ital J Anim Sci vol.12:e28, 2013] [page 35]

 Abudabos et al.

enced by treatment (P<0.05), it was signifi- Table 5. Serum enzyme concentrations of broiler chickens fed the experimental diets.
cantly higher for birds which had received the
Treatments P*
control diet compared to the other 2 treat-
ments, no significant difference was found T1 T2 T3 SEM
between those which had received T2 and T3.
No significant difference in AST, ALP, GGT, Total protein, g/dL 3.23 3.08 3.10 ±0.21 ns
LDH, and CK were found (P>0.05). The only Albumin, g/dL 1.81 1.57 1.59 ±0.15 ns
Globulin, g/dL 1.42 1.52 1.51 ±0.27 ns
enzyme that showed response to treatment
Total lipids, g/dL 409.0a 324.3ab 283.9b ±29.0 *
was ALT, it was significantly higher for birds
Cholesterol, g/dL 145.2a 118.1b 115.7b ±12.1 *
which had received T1 as compared to the Glucose, g/dL 188.8 197.4 192.4 ±12.5 ns
other treatments (P<0.05) while it was similar Uric acid, g/dL 7.25a 5.20b 4.57b ±0.62 *
between those fed T2 and T3. Na, mmol/L 178.5 193.7 156.3 ±22.96 ns
K, mmol/L 3.68 3.74 3.74 ±0.25 ns
Na:Cl 49.2 51.4 192.4 ±5.32 ns
Cl, mmol/L 114.4 136.8 120.0 ±8.85 ns
Discussion Ca, mg/dL 114.4 128.8 125.8 ±0.69 ns
Zn, µmol/L 24.4 26.6 27.1 ±2.00 ns
During the trial period, there were no signif-
icant differences in BWG between birds fed the T1, control diet (0% U. lactuca); T2, 1.0 % U. lactuca; T3, 3.0 % U. lactuca. Treatments 2 and 3 were formulated by substituting 1.0 and
3.0% of corn with U. lactuca, respectively. AST, aspartate aminotransferase; CK, creatine kinase; ALT, alanine transaminase; ALT, alka-
dietary treatments. Moreover, treatment did not line phosphatase; GGT, gamma-glutamyltransferase; LDH, lactate dehydrogenase; *P<0.05; ns, not significant. a,bMeans in the row
affect FI or FCR. This may be indicative that with different superscripts differ significantly.
there were no toxic or anti-nutritional effects
caused by U. lactuca. These results agree with
edible meat in broilers and the contribution of could be due to the presence of soluble fibre in
previous investigators who utilized the same or
breast muscle to total carcass meat is extensive U. lactuca, which has been shown to contain
other species from the same genus and demon-
(Acar et al., 1993). In this trial and based on 21.3% of soluble fibre (Lahaye, 1991; Lahaye
strated that broilers which had received sea-
estimated values, T3 contained 11.1% and and Jegou, 1993); the soluble fibre fraction may
weed performed equally well or even better than
10.2% higher methionine and threonine, also be responsible for the lower fat percentage
birds received the positive control diet (Maurice
respectively compared to T1 and the improve- observed. This is supported by the results we
et al., 1984; El-Deek et al., 1987; Gu et al., 1988;
ment in breast yield and dressing percentage obtained from serum total lipids and cholesterol
Ross and Dominy, 1990; Ernest and Warren,
could be explained by the improvement in analysis. The mechanism underlying the hypoc-
1990; Venkataraman et al., 1994). Conversely,
essential AAs. Wong and Cheung (2001) evalu- holesterolemic effect is related to several prop-
Carrillo et al. (1990) reported that growth rate
ated the nutritional values of seaweed protein, erties characteristic of soluble fibre including
of broilers gradually decreased as the inclusion
they reported that seaweed protein concen- viscosity, bile salt binding capacity and fer-
rate of seaweed increased in the diet to 15.0%.
Similarly, Ventura et al. (1994) reported that U. trates were rich in leucine, valine and threo- mentability (Davidson and Mcdonald, 1998).
rigida decreased FI and BWG and they conclud- nine but lacked cystine. In a subsequent study, This is in congruent with previous finding of
ed that it is harmful to be included in the diet at Burtin (2003) reported that the protein levels of Carvalho et al. (2009) who found that the solu-
level higher than 10.0%. By comparing corn and Ulva species are in the range of 15 to 20%. ble fraction of U. fasciata fibre was responsible
U. lactuca based on the analysis conducted in Ojano-Dirain and Waldroup (2002) reported for the hypocholesterolemic effect observed in
this trial, U. lactuca contained 44.0% lower ME, that increasing Methionine from 0.38 to 0.44% rats. Another explanation for low fat content is
55.0% higher crude protein and 82.0 % higher in a broiler diet resulted in significant improve- that U. lactuca contains high polyunsaturated
crude fibre. As a result, the effect of substituting ments in dressing percentage and breast yield fatty acid composition particularly regarding
0.0, 1.0 or 3.0% of corn with U. lactuca resulted and a numerical reduction in AF. Café and with omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids (Wahbeh,
in producing diets with slightly lower ME, high- Waldroup (2006) reported that increasing the 1997). Determination of a panel of serum
er crude protein and higher amino acids (AA). Met level to 130.0% of NRC (1994) improved enzymes is often reflecting the degree of hepa-
The numeric improvement (33 g) in BWG for dressing percentage and breast yield of broilers tocellular damage and leakage (Jaensch,
birds fed T3 compare to T1 could be a result of at 35 d of age as compared to a control group. A 2000). Fluctuation of serum concentrations,
the improvement in essential AAs especially significant reduction of abdominal fat was asso- tissue distribution and the half-life of each
sulfur-containing AAs. According to Ito and Hori ciated with feeding U. lactuca. Based on deter- individual enzyme are the discrimination fac-
(1989) U. lactuca contains high AAs especially mined analysis, crude protein level of the diet tors between these enzymes. Nevertheless,
sulfur-AAs. In practical feeds the total sulfur increased as the level of U. lactuca increased, AST was considered the most specific enzymes
amino acids, lysine and threonine are usually the substituting of 3.0% corn with U. lactuca for detecting hepatic insult in birds (Lumeij,
considered as the most limiting amino acids in resulted in 2.8% increase in protein content 1994). Clearly, activity of this enzyme in chicks
practical feeding for growing chickens fed corn- compared to T1. The results of this trial agree were not modified by U. lactuca, which could
SBM meal diets (Kidd, 2000). Dietary protein with those obtained by Moran et al. (1992) they indicate that supplementation of U. lactuca did
and AAs are major elements affecting carcass demonstrated that crude protein level had a not have any adverse effect on chicken health.
characteristics; and quality of meat such as major impact on abdominal fat deposition, Replacing 3.0% of corn in the diet with U.
abdominal fat content and breast meat yield are increasing crude protein intake and decreasing lactuca showed no negative effects on produc-
greatly influenced by AAs level (Leclereq, 1998). abdominal fat deposition rather than single AA. tion parameters measured; in the contrary it
Breast muscle provides the greatest portion of Another explanation for lower abdominal fat improved carcass characteristics. However, it

[page 36] [Ital J Anim Sci vol.12:e28, 2013]


is important to keep in mind the crude fibre
and soluble fibre percentages when use U. lac-
tuca in broilers diet. It has been shown that U.
lactuca, has 21.3% of soluble fibre (Lahaye,
1991). The viscosity associated with soluble
dietary fibres has been shown to increase the
thickness of the intestinal boundary layer and
consequently impede nutrient uptake
(Johnson and Gee, 1981; Flourie et al., 1984).
The physiological importance of soluble
dietary fibres lies in their ability to reduce the
diffusion and absorption of nutrients in the
small intestine (Furda, 1990).
Conclusions
In this experiment, birds fed on the 3.0%
seaweed diet performed better than birds fed
on respective control diet. It was speculated
that higher crude protein and AAs specially
methionine which resulted in improvement in
dressing and breast yield. Based on the data of
the present study, U. lactuca is considered to
be a good and inexpensive untraditional
ingredient that could partially incorporated in
poultry diets. However, seasonal variations in
nutrient composition of seaweed have to be
considered when utilizing this ingredient in
poultry nutrition.
References
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from hatching to twelve weeks of age. Poultry
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AOAC, 1990. Official Methods of Analysis. 15th ed.
Association of Official Analytical Chemists,
Washington, DC, USA.
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